SATURDAY SCOOPS
Necessary tools

Advertiser Staff and News Services

All you want to know is this: For simple weekend home repair and upkeep, what do you really need in your toolbox?

Frank Suster, City Mill's eminent expert on all things tools, has your answer — 10 of them, in fact.

1. Start with the barest of essentials, the hammer. Suster says a sturdy, 16-ounce claw hammer is light enough for most family members to handle and tough enough for most jobs. The rounded claw feature is useful for pulling out nails.

2 & 3. Next you'll need at least two screwdrivers, one Phillips head (the cross-shaped one) and one standard. A full set of screwdrivers can be had for $10 to $20, but if you decide that two are all you need, keep in mind that No. 2 screws are the most common.

4. A simple pair of pliers also are quite indispensible. Just make sure they're adjustable.

5. For cutting carpets, boxes, etc., you'll need a basic utility knife. For about $3, you should be able to find one with easy-to-change blades, and a compartment in the handle to store extra blades.

6. Suster says you'll be hard-pressed to find a room with a wall longer than 25 feet in Hawai'i. Thus, a 25 foot-by-1 inch tape measure should be more than enough for everyday use.

7. At some point in your DIY life, you'll likely need a good handsaw. Suster recommends one with eight to 10 points per inch. "Anything less will give you a really rough cut," he says.

8. A staple gun can be used for everything from re-upholstering chairs to securing telephone wires. Since staples come in different sizes, Suster recommends getting one with at least three size settings.

9. For painting or filling projects, a putty knife is as helpful as it is inexpensive. A two-inch wide blade is perfect for most jobs.

10. Finally, no home should be without a reliable drill. Cordless models are convenient and relatively inexpensive. Just make sure you don't get anything weaker than 9 volts, Suster warns.

While professional-grade tools can run hundreds of dollars, basic models of all of these items, save the drill, can be had for $10 or less.

"For everyday use, you don't need the very best," Suster says. "Just buy to your means."

The Chinese new year celebrations keep on going, and everyone's invited:

• Market City Shopping Center offers lion dances, firecrackers and fortune cookies from 10 a.m. today.
• A lion dance begins at noon today at the ARTS at Marks Garage downtown, in conjunction with the art exhibit "Creativity Surrounds Us Like the Light Surrounds the Sun."
• Windward Mall's Center Court hosts a celebration at noon tomorrow that features a lion dance, the Narcissus queen and her court, calligraphy, fortune-telling and more.

Storyteller, clown part of keiki fair at Blaisdell Center

The Keiki Resources Fair, featuring 200 booths focusing on schools, enrichment programs, kids' products and fun, continues at the Blaisdell Center. Attractions include storyteller Jeff Gere, Magic Mark, celebrity clown Bugs Derf, demonstration areas and food and sports courts.

The first fair was held in August 2002 and attracted 15,000 parents and children.

Hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. today and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. tomorrow Admission is $3 general, free for kids younger than 2.

Prepare for more stormy weather

More turbulent weather is expected this weekend, and because this winter has been a little more nasty than usual, brace yourself for worst-case scenarios.

"It's along the same lines as preparing for a hurricane. ... be prepared before it strikes, rather than trying to get things together once the storm is upon us," said Capt. Emmit Kane, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman.

The fire department offers these tips:

• Prepare a home survival kit. Include a radio, extra batteries, flashlights, candles, first-aid kit and medications. Also, gather blankets, personal toiletries and clothing, and store drinking water.
• Create and go over an emergency plan with family members in case of separation. Have a designated meeting place.
• "Monitor the television and radio for instructions in case there are emergencies in different areas," Kane said. "Always listen to directions of authority, whether it's the HPD, HFD or civil defense."

O'ahu Civil Defense's hurricane preparedness tips also may apply to storms:

• Secure and store loose outdoor items.
• Plan for care of pets, which may need to stay behind if you leave the house.

Nutz to you at Anna Bannanas

Rock 'n' roll is on the menu as Mixed Nutz struts its stuff at Anna Bannanas, 10 tonight to 1 a.m. tomorrow. The band consists of bassist JD Eakins, lead singer Lionel Woodard, rhythm guitarist Troy Schmidt, lead guitarist Roy Hisatake, drummer "Billy the Kid" Toti, and vocalist Tiffany Kidwell. For those 21 and older; cover charge is $5. 946-5190.

Brush up on flat latex paint brands

Planning a painting project, but baffled at the wide range of paints to choose from? Here's a way to compare flat latex paint brands. Since there are no government regulations that require paint manufacturers to list their content, our test should be helpful.

Buy a small sample of each brand that interests you. Mix the samples completely and place a dollop of each sample on a piece of scrap wood or cardboard. Place a drop of food coloring onto each dollop of paint. The food coloring that spreads the least indicates the best paint.

Jake Shimabukuro to jam at pair of Maui concerts